Compare Signature City Vancouver by Road Scholar

Day 1
Check In, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Vancouver, BC D Best Western Plus Sands Hotel
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Arrive to bustling Vancouver and transfer to the hotel. Program Registration. 4:00-5:00 p.m. Come meet our group leader in the lobby and get your welcome packet. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in and the front desk will be happy to help you.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a welcome dinner

Evening: We’ll begin our evening with an orientation session where we’ll get to know each other as well as review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes. We’ll go over important information as well as have time for questions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars or settle in for the night. You may also wish to explore what the city has to offer.

Day 2
Vancouver History, City Exploration, Anthropology Museum
Vancouver, BC B,L,D Best Western Plus Sands Hotel
Activity note: Getting on/off a coach. Walking approximately 1 mile, moderate pace; some standing at museum.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: We’ll be joined by a local expert for an insightful look into the history, personalities and urban planning that have enabled Vancouver to achieve its status as one of the most livable cities in the world. Then depart on a field trip by coach through Vancouver’s downtown core, en route to the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. With insider commentary, we’ll see some of the city’s most notable, colorful and historic neighborhoods and points of interest

Lunch: We’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon: Glimpse into the remarkable lives of the Indigenous peoples of the northwest coast of British Columbia and around the world during our visit to the Museum of Anthropology. This is Canada's largest teaching museum, designed by Futurist architect Arthur Erikson, and located on the University of British Columbia campus overlooking mountains and sea. On a self-guided exploration, see massive totem poles, carved boxes, bowls and feast dishes displayed in the Great Hall, and smaller, but equally magnificent pieces in gold, silver, argillite and other materials, exhibited in the galleries. Then, walk through nearby Nitobe Memorial Garden, part of the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden, with a local expert. Every element of the garden is designed to reflect harmony and an idealized conception of nature. Considered one of the top five Japanese gardens outside Japan, this oasis of serenity set amid a bustling city, honors Nitobe Inazo (1862-1933), noted agriculturalist, author, educator, and diplomat, whose goal was “to become a bridge across the Pacific”.

Dinner: We’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant

Evening: At leisure.

Day 3
Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, Bloedel Conservatory
Vancouver, BC B,L,D Best Western Plus Sands Hotel
Activity note: Walking approximately 2 miles, relatively flat terrain, some rocks, exposed roots.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: We’ll be joined by a member of the Stanley Park Ecology Society for an in-depth exploration of Stanley Park. Learn about this unique park and National Historic Site, with its majestic hemlock, cedar and firs trees, totem poles and ocean and mountain vistas. You’ll get close-up views of its world-famous landmarks, including Lost Lagoon, monuments and sculptures, and the 5.5-mile stone seawall that encircles the park.

Lunch: We’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon: Aboard our coach, we’ll visit several points of interest and then travel to Queen Elizabeth Park, situated on the highest point in Vancouver and boasting spectacular views of the city, water and mountains. The park has nearly 129 acres (52 hectares) of green space, and includes an arboretum with exotic and native trees and sculptures, including one by internationally renowned artist Henry Moore. This is also home of the Quarry Garden - a world-class garden that was created on the site of a former gravel pit. We’ll see a number of these horticultural and sculpture highlights, take a short walk and then visit the domed paradise of Bloedel Conservatory, home to 120 free-flying exotic birds and 500 exotic plants and flowers.

Dinner: We’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Granville Island, Culinary Exploration and Tastings
Vancouver, BC B,L Best Western Plus Sands Hotel
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking up to 2 miles during the day on paved paths and groomed trails, standing for short periods during field trip; a few stairs with railings.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: On Granville Island, we’ll be joined by an expert from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICA) for a historical and culinary exploration of the island, which offers an eclectic mix of artisanal food shops, studios, fine waterfront restaurants, theatres, and galleries. In the bustling Public Market, savor samples of the market's many globally-influenced and locally-committed artisans, farmers and food purveyors, and taste what they are grown, fishing, and cooking. Along the way, learn what makes the island both a sensory and historic destination.

Lunch: At the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts restaurant, we’ll enjoy cuisine prepared by talented students. The menu, featuring locally-sourced foods, changes with the seasons.

Afternoon: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration. You might like to continue exploring the Market, visit one of the many museums and attractions in the city, or return to the hotel and relax. You can consult the list of Free Time Opportunities and the Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: This is an opportunity for you to explore the city and create your own dining experience. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions suited to your tastes.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
Chinatown & Gastown, Sun Yat-sen Garden, Art Gallery
Vancouver, BC B,D Best Western Plus Sands Hotel
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1.5 miles during the day on paved sidewalks, paths; standing for short periods during field trip; a few stairs with railings.

Breakfast: At the hotel

Morning: Embark on a motorcoach field trip through Vancouver’s earliest and most colorful neighbourhoods. We’ll visit Gastown, the city’s first downtown, once home to sawmills and saloons and the scene of a well-known clash between hippies and police over marijuana in 1971. The district is now a National Historic Site, treasured for its VIctorian architecture and the Steam Clock, a city icon. Next, we will explore one of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in North America. Learn about Chinatown's rich heritage, vibrant culture, incredible food markets, and distinctive "recessed balcony" style of architecture, as we ride along its colorful streets. Highlights include the Millennium Gate, a four-pillar, three-story high, brightly painted arch erected to celebrate the millennium and commemorate the Chinese community's role in Vancouver's history. We’ll stop at a bakery for a Chinese apple tart before beginning our field trip at the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Classical Chinese Garden. Named one of the world’s best hidden travel gems by National Geographic, it is the first Chinese or "scholars garden” built outside of China and is an authentic representation of a garden tradition that reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Lunch: Lunch on own, choose from the numerous dining possibilities the area has to offer. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions suited to your tastes.

Afternoon: Visit the Vancouver Art Gallery for a self-directed exploration of the more than 11,000 works of art the gallery offers, many by regional artists. Don’t miss the largest group of paintings and works on paper by Emily Carr (1871-1945), one of the region’s most renowned artists, whose modernist style developed throughout her life. She is best known for themes on First Nations cultures, totems, and landscapes including rainforests. Other highlights of the gallery include Indigenous art, photography and conceptual art, and contemporary art from Asia.

Dinner: We’ll enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant and a wrap-up session after dinner.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Program Concludes
Vancouver, BC B
Activity note: Hotel check out by 12:00 Noon.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!